The only time I have ever had an issue is when, like Ryan's situation a staff RN coached the Pt into saying they didn't want a Male in the room.

Now I am one of those "staff" RN's and have not had any problems with female pt's, but our attitude's as male nurses goes a long way. If we display calm, porfessional, confidence it is much more likely that the potentially uncomfortable experience will be a positive one for the patient.

My co-workers and I have had this conversation because there are very few male nurses on the surgical unit I work on and mostly they said they would not want me to take care of them, not because I'm a male, but because I "know" them and they would rather me not see their "parts".

The type of people who say they wouldn't let a male take care of them in my opinion are somewhat biased, or possibly had a bad experience with a man which could make them feel vulnerable, or they are just plain closed minded and old fashioned. If they are a man and they don't want "males" caring for them maybe they feel week as a man or they are afraid of getting laughed at maybe, or they would just rather have a "hot" female nurse they can tease inappropriately (I loved being called in for those kind of pt's, so you want to talk to the ladies inappropriately...fine I'LL put your catheter in we'll see if you flirt with me bud).

"Well personally, I dont like male nursing students. I would much rather have a female nursing student take care of me."

--this statement is exactly what we as male nurses need to overcome as an extra challenge in choosing this field. I wonder do you "not like" male doctors too? I have so many things that aren't nice to say that I'm holding back in this post but I hope the nurses taking care of me when I'm sick do not share this opinion with teeituptom.

As a nursing student, I didn't once have a problem dealing with female patients. Even the patients in post-parnum thought having a male nurse, was "quite unique". But, over the years, I've run into female patients who didn't want me. That's okay. I'd just switch patients with a female nurse.

My worst experience as a student.....

was in my first day of OB clinical. I walked in and my patient was an ex-girlfiend that had gotten married and I didn't recognize the name. Actually I don't think she had as much of a problem with me taking care of her as did her husband. Fortunately, my instructor (who was also a male) was very understanding about the situation and changed my assignment. All in all, my entire OB clinical was not a fun experience because everytime I went into a room to do anything, I had to have my instructor and a fellow female student with me. Other than those eight weeks, I've never really had a problem with a patient.

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

Originally Posted by RNstudentBrian

Funny
I am in my second year in an ASN program. Up until today I would have said that I have never had a problem with any assignement.
Today I had two patients that were in their 30's (I am 42). They were both in for peri area procedures. One was no problem at all. The other seemed to be no problem. I worked with her all morning. Set her up for ADL's and then assisted her with back and peri care. She had a significant loss of blood and ended up staying for a 23 hour obs. Her H&H was 26.4/8.1. So I did not get her out of bed.

Then, when it came time to remove her foley and vag. packing I asked the RN if she minded if I observed. SHe told me to get the patients permission. Which she gave. No problem. Then the RN went in to the pt. room and came back a moment later. She informed me that the pt. indeed did not wish for me to observe. This is strange for me because I have been working as a paramedic for over 20 years and have always found that attitude and profesionalism seemed to overcome any type of concerns. I later was told by the pt's roomate that the RN came in and said to my pt. something to the effect of, You don't want a man to watch me do this, do you? Of course the pt. is going to agree with her nurse.

My instructor was not supportive at all stating, "I don't believe it". I have had men students here for the past couple of years and have never run into this. You must have misunderstood the situation.

Well, as they say. Live and learn.

Brian

Yep, the exact same thing happened to me. After all my nursing school rotations and a year in the ER, the only problem I've had was not with patients, but with a couple of the nurses in L&D. Whether they were just embarrassed to ask patients about me or whether they truly didn't like male nurses, who cares? Life is too short.

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

I think it comes down to the experiances the patient has had in the past. on a purely personal level I am not comfortable with a male taking a cervical smear- thats because the times I have had a male take it (be he nurse or docotor) it have been horribly uncomfortable and I have bled for ages for afterwards. so although I will allow a man to take a smear- I dont feel comfortable and find it a very stressful experiance. Given the choice- I would prefer a woman. there are some things that we have done where empathy is a great thing! Having a smear done can feel like an assault.....

just something to think about.

Karen

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

I've run into only a couple pts who asked for a female nurse, and a couple who prefered a more experienced nurse. Gave up one female after consulting my charge nurse--she had no objection, but we were worried she might like me too much.

I've been asked once to remove a Foley from a male pt who was modest, and several times to help with lifts or combative patients.

I was recently helping a 97 yr old lady back into her clothes and back to bed when she explained that she was a Christian and didn't want to have sex with me. But, in general, gender hasn't been much of an issue.

Tom, I hope you were kidding. If you seriously don't like having a male nurse, shame on you. If you seriously like having a female nurse more than you ought to, shame on you. Unless you're having altered mental status, of course.

Personally, I very much prefer not to need any nurse.

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

interested in your topic, i am a female student nurse in my third and final year, i have worked with many male student and qualified nurses and have only encountered in theree years of training one female patients objection to a male nurse caring for them. Personally speaking i sometimes prefer to work alongside male nurses as i find they often relate to patients better because of there sense of humour (maybe they feel they have to compensate for not being female) as in sometimes feeling awkward with intimate female procedures. I do find that male nurses are not all gay he he and do not conform to the bitchyness often encountered from female staff, also they are not prone to gossip and are logical in there thinking, i would certainly not have a problem with a male nurse looking after me if he was competent to do the job correctly. Come on all you male nurses do yopur stuff!!!

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

Why would a person have a problem with a male nurse taking care of them when their are more male doctors than females doctors? The only thing I have seen is the male doctor must huve a female nurse in the room for private type exams and that is just so no one can accuse the male doctor of doing anything funny.

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

i think some elderly patients have a problem with male nurses because of the era that they were brought up in

Re: attitudes of male and female patients towards male nursing students

Originally Posted by RNstudentBrian

Funny
I am in my second year in an ASN program. Up until today I would have said that I have never had a problem with any assignement.
Today I had two patients that were in their 30's (I am 42). They were both in for peri area procedures. One was no problem at all. The other seemed to be no problem. I worked with her all morning. Set her up for ADL's and then assisted her with back and peri care. She had a significant loss of blood and ended up staying for a 23 hour obs. Her H&H was 26.4/8.1. So I did not get her out of bed.

Then, when it came time to remove her foley and vag. packing I asked the RN if she minded if I observed. SHe told me to get the patients permission. Which she gave. No problem. Then the RN went in to the pt. room and came back a moment later. She informed me that the pt. indeed did not wish for me to observe. This is strange for me because I have been working as a paramedic for over 20 years and have always found that attitude and profesionalism seemed to overcome any type of concerns. I later was told by the pt's roomate that the RN came in and said to my pt. something to the effect of, You don't want a man to watch me do this, do you? Of course the pt. is going to agree with her nurse.

My instructor was not supportive at all stating, "I don't believe it". I have had men students here for the past couple of years and have never run into this. You must have misunderstood the situation.

Well, as they say. Live and learn.

Brian

Im curious,
Is your instructor male or female?